Traction-engine.



6.1. STRHE @L F. H. 3mm/IAN. TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FI'LED IAN. I6. i914y 1 1 38,996 Patented May 11, 1915.

.l W.. BY f/ Z v W G. T. STRITE & F. H. BIERMAN.

TRACTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I6. I9I4.

Patented May 11, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.v

I NI/ENTORS GEORGE 7.' STR/TE FRA NH H. B/ERMAN 9p/,M MM v ATTORNEY W/ TNES .SES

6.1. sTmTE a. F. H. BlERMAN.

TRACTION ENGINE. vAPPucATmN man IAN. 16. 19m.

Patented May 11,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W/TNESSES:

UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. STRITE AND FRANK H. IiBIER-MAN, OF MTNNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGN- ORS OF ONE-FIFTH TOAHO'WARD J. BIERMAN AND ONE-FIFTH TO ENSLEY L. STRl'IIE,` BOTH F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND ONE-FIFTH TO J. S. CLAPPER, OF BIL- LING'S, MONTANA.

To daZZ. f whom itimay concern Be 1t known'that We, GEORGE T. S'rRrrE -`and FRANK H. BLERMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Uur invention relates to traction engines of the type in which the tractive power is exerted through a single wheel and no differential gearing is employed; In traction vating corn or cotton and the traction wheell may runv between two rows of said plants and the steering wheels between pairs of rows at each side thereof.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a frame for the traction engine of peculiarly'simple and eilicient construction and so proportioned as to its parts that the traction wheel shall support the said frame in balanced relation and thefmotor and transmission will be carried byjsaid frame` in such manner as to be easily accessible.

It is an important objectbfour invention to provide a drawbar for theengine which shall be directly connected with the axle of fthe tractiony wheel so that the trac,-

tive foce lexercsf-xd by the traction `wheel will be transmitted'to the point of draft directly and not through the frame of the -machine This will prevent the straining of the frame which so often results where `the tractive force' is"v transmitted' through the frame to the draw-bar, and which str. ining `frequently has the effectof placing he bearings of the machinery of thek engine out of alinement and causing rapid deterioration or complete destruction of thel machine.

It is'a further object of our invention to provide a means for extending the axle. or wheelhub of the traction Wheel so asto attach thereto one 'or more additional wheels.

for receiving the weight and aiding in the propulsion ofthe engine when lthe same 1s used on soft ground.. Since no differentlal Specification of Letters Patent.

.rear of the frame is provided with TRAcTroN-ENGINE.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application mea January 1s, 1914. serial No. 812,470.

is provided in our machine we make these extra bearing wheels of somewhat less dii ameter than that of the main traction wheel,

so that in turning, the engine will pivot on the single traction wheel.

The full objects and advantages of our lnvention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

u In the drawin s, illustrating the application of o'ur inven ion in one form,-Figure 1 is a side .elevation of our complete traction engine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same showingv in dotted lines where the extra traction wheels would be applied. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation" taken principally on a section line through the axis of the traction wheel and showing the extra traction wheels attached.

A frame 10 is provided, preferably composed of. channel iron which is bent together at the ends so that the main frame when connected upA comprises a continuous `frame member. A second longitudinal chan- ,nel member 11 spacedjsanewhat from said member l0 is. extended' fcrwardly and rests upon a crossbar 13 boltedto theounder side of the frame members 10thericrossbars 1Q- Abolted to the top of said frame members providing supporting means forfth'e' motor and operating parts. The front part of the frame rests upon a transverse axle 14 which extends to ythe'desired 'distance at either side of said frame and-is provided 'with stud axles 15 upon which arey journaled front supporting Aand* guiding`v wheels 16. The a set oL bearings 18 and 19 which aresecurely bolted f upon the top of said frame members 1G.

'A` single traction wheel 20 `is provided with an extended tubular hub 21, which hub hasa bearing portion 22 at each end thereof extended through. the said bearing blocks 18 and 19, and preferably engaging roller bearings 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

It will be seen that the frame 10 is 'suspendedfrom the hub 21 which rests above said frame and runs on the roller bearings within the bearing blocks 18 and 19. The

ends of hub 21 extend beyond said bearings at each sideof the frame 10 and are provided with iat expanded disks '24.

Upon the frame 10 in` 20 is mounted a suitable motor v25 and 1n front of the wheel.

,front of saidinotor a radiator 26 cooled by a fan 27 operated by a pulley 28.

`A gasolene tank 29 is 'mounted upon the top of the radiator. f

A lutch iy wheel 30 is secured to the crank shaft 'of the engine and may be clutched to the driving shaft 31 extending 1n alinement therewith forward ofthe en- 'gine and lbetween the steering wheels by means of a clutchdevice '32, this clutch device beingoperated through a lever 33 and rod- 34v by means of foot lever 35.

vA Amultiple-speed transmission and reverse is provided in an inclosed casing 37 at the-'front of the machine, from which,

lthrough drive shaft 38 and gearing indicated by dotted lines at 39, the maindrive gear 40' bolted securely to hub 21 is driven. The gearing 39 and 40 is within a Idustprooffcasinge41, and the upper part of tractionwheel 20 is inclosed in a casing 42.

As .best shown in Fig. 3, the drawbar comprises a yoke member 43 bolted'at its ends to the frame members 10 and extending 'vertically downward beneath the same. To

other implement toy be drawn by the "engine maybe attached. Itwill be seen thatthe l draft strain from link 43 is practically all transmitted ldirefctlyjto the hubor axle 21.

of,.the..traction Wheel20 through the draft links lhere Vis no'pulling strain rupon the frame 10. The motor 25 and parts connected therewith are at the front part of said frame removed from the draft portion.

The various bearings for these elements can' vbe in ,nowise affected by the draft upon the engine at the rear.l A seat 54 is provided adjacent the platform 48, The transmission .within casing 37 is controlled by links 52 and two-way, lever 53 convenient tothe operator.' The front vwheel stub axles are provided with arms 55 connected by a link 56 and aile/controlled for steering purposes -bypmea'rfs of an arm 58 and link 459 pivoted to-"said arm and to one of arms55, said arni` 58 being fast on a segment 60 oscillated by a worm61 on the short shaft 'connectfed by a uniuersal joint 62with ashaft 63 having thereon a hand wheel 64"adja cent the operator:;

- vThe traction engin-e as4 above described is in a high'degi'eef efficient for plowing, harrowing,'cultivating, and in fact .performing any 'operation in' 'connection Awith -.farm

work. The machine may be turned around with the utmost ease and in a very small space. The single traction wheel readily accommodates itself between rows of growing plants, such as corn, potatoesor cotton, and the steering wheels will run between rows at the sides. In certain soils or under certain conditions it may be desirable vto provide greater support for the traction engine than will come from the traction Wheel alone and at the same time increase to some extent the tractive surface available.

The disks 24 are preferably made separate from the hubs 21 and may be integrally secured thereto by -means of keys 65, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. To the disks 24 may be bolted flange sections 66 of the hub 67 of separate wheelsl 68. The hubs 67 are I preferably bored out at vthe center in the same manner as the hub 21, and within this bore may be placeda shaft 69 which is secured in position by keys 7 0.V The shaft 69 floats within the hubs 21 and 67 and` assists in additionally istiffening said hubs as an axle so that the several hubs and the wheels carried thereby will' rotate in unison. As

clearly indicated 'in Fig. 3, .the wheels 68` are of lessdiameter .than the traction wheel 20, lwhich therefore receives the larger part of the weight of the rear part of the engine, so that,- in turning, the engine will pivot on the center wheel, the side wheel 68 sliding in opposite directions. rI he said wheel 68 will be so positioned. that .when

the machine -is used vfor cultivating the rows of corn or other plantswill be between said side; wheels-and the central driving wheel.

The mode of operation of our improved traction engine has been freely given in connection with the detailed description of its high degree f accessible. The operator Ahas anunobstructed view along tliejside of the engine and is in position readilyfto manipulate levers 'and other parts connected with the agricultural implement pulled by the en-m, gine. The frame is4 mainly in front ofthe large traction wheel, and the front'part of the frame has'fno other function thanto support the motor `and parts connected therewith for operating-the engine.; 4 This frame may 'be'very rigid andfstrongand, not being subject to any' draft strain, `will provide la rigidand iiXed base for theQmotor and operating parts,l upon whichbearings will lwilirking life of' themachine will'ibe `very much'prolonged. The draft will be comunicated directly from the axle or 'hubs 21 through the -draft `links 44 and' 45 tothe `draft pin 50,-wh-ich kentirely avoids any racking or twistingof the frame 10 due to Aoperating of the traction wheel on uneven' ground and' transmission of the draft never-'get' out of 'alinemenh sqthat the 1055 several parts. It' will be apparentthat all the working parts ofv the tractor are to a y `:from .thev lvvheel through the frame ofthe engine." Zhen theextra Wheels G8 are eml floyed. such wheels Will aid materially in ing of the engine.

"thereon oppositely disposed arms 71, 72l

olding up the machine on soft ground and at the .e same time, o n account of theirless diameter, will not interfere.I With the turn- The hub 21 hascast .Which are connected by place bars 73 with the t- 1re of the traction Wheel. The tractive forze is therefore applied directly to the -I' rim`y of .the traction Wheel 'from the hub fao vend 'not'through the spokes of the hub. If 'des1red, the Wheels 68 may be similarly constructed'.

. We claim.:

1. A traction engine comprifsinglga unitary -l v-rectangula'fr frame formed of Achannel iron and provided with an interrrwiliate longitudinalmember spaced from `-a -side of the framegsaid side members of the frame being provided With bearings, a traction Wheel be- -tWeen a side member and said intermediate member having an integral axle hub extendingluthrough said bearings by which said frame is suspended -from the said axle hub,

I steering Wheels for supporting the front end '30 into the space'between the longitudinal frame "a5 dinal member spacedfrom a side of the -of` the frame, a motor and connections for operating the traction Wheel including a drive gear fast on said axle and extending member and the other side member.

' 2. A traction. engine comprising a unitary rectangular frame formed of channel iron and provided with an intermediate longituframe, said side members of the frame being provided With bearings, a traction Wheelbetween a side member-and said intermedmte member having an integral axle hub extending through said bearings by Which said traction -Wheel.

3. A traction engine comprising a unitary rectangular frame formed of channel iron and provided with an intermediate longitudinal member spaced from a side of the frame, said side members of the frame belng provided with bearings, a Atraction Wheel between a side member and said intermediatev member having an integral axle hub extending through said .bearings by Whichv said frame is suspended from the said axle hub, steering Wheels for supporting the front end of the frame, a motor on said frame in front'of the traction Wheel, a set of transmission gearing on said frame in front of the motor, and connections therefrom for operating the traction Wheel including a longitudinal shaft' anda drive gear fast on said axle and' extending into the space betwen the longitudinal member and the other side member.

4. A traction engine comprising a unitary -rectangular frame formed of channel iron and provided With an intermediate longitudinal member spaced from a side of `the frame, said side members of the frame being provided with bearings, a'traction Wheel between a side member and said intermedlate member having an integral axle hub extending through said bearings by which 'said limits of said frame, said axle being provided with flanged heads, and supplemental traction Wheels having hubs formed with flanged heads complemental to the heads on the live axle, by which said supplemental Wheels are rigidly secured to and so that theiry hubs form anv extension of the said live axle. f

In testimony whereof We aiix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE. T.. STRITE. f FRANK H. BIERMAN.'

4Witnesses:

H. A. BOWMAN,

F. A. WmTELEY. 

